Stillman softball trying to turn corner

Stillman junior Ashley Savage is the SIAC West Pitcher of the Week after striking out 11 in a win at Talladega.

Michelle Lepianka Carter | Tuscaloosa News

By Marquavius BurnettSpecial to The Tuscaloosa News

Published: Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 11:32 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | For the Stillman Lady Tigers softball team, improving on the 2012 season is a big goal.

The Lady Tigers are coming off one of the best seasons in school history, winning the college’s first Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Western Division championship with a 23-3 conference record and going 35-15 overall.

But this season has been a bit of a struggle. The Lady Tigers are off to a 1-5 start, including 0-4 at home.

“We have certainly not started like we would’ve liked to this season,” coach Pam Phillips said. “I habitually schedule tougher teams prior to the start of conference play, and this schedule was no different. We were in three of those first four games. We just couldn’t finish.”

Phillips understands why the team has stumbled out of the gate and understands what the Lady Tigers need to work on.

“We didn’t hit like Stillman and we did not get the solid pitching performances that are crucial to winning games against high-caliber opponents from the Gulf South Conference like (North Alabama and West Alabama),” Phillips said.

Phillips mentioned the schedule and lack of practice time as factors as well.

“Not to make excuses, but it is really tough on us at the beginning of the season year-in and year-out,” she said. “We do not have the luxury of having those fall practice and playing dates as do the majority of our nonconference foes.”

There is hope for the Lady Tigers as the season progresses. They have all three of their senior outfielders back this year — left fielder Michelle Gray, center fielder Januar Page and right fielder Paten Williams.

“These three student-athletes have played phenomenal defense from the jump,” Phillips said. “They certainly give our pitchers great confidence.”

Along with those standouts, Hannah Burr was voted West Division Player of the Week last week. Burr went 4-for-10 in four games. She hit two doubles and scored two runs for the Lady Tigers and posted a .933 fielding percentage for the week.

Senior shortstop Bailey Braughton was voted West Division Player of the Week this week, while junior Ashley Savage is the West Division Pitcher of the Week.

Braughton went 4-for-8 with two doubles, two RBIs, two stolen bases and scoring three runs scored.

Savage pitched six innings and struck out 11 batters in a 6-1 win at Talladega.

With bright spots like those, Phillips said she isn’t worried about the slow start and knows things will turn around eventually.

“We are certainly expecting our hard work, determination and desire to pay off for us in the long run,” Phillips said. “It has definitely been a rough start for us, but we look at this as just a bump in the road on this long journey toward our ultimate goal of being the 2013 SIAC softball champions.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | For the Stillman Lady Tigers softball team, improving on the 2012 season is a big goal.</p><p>The Lady Tigers are coming off one of the best seasons in school history, winning the college's first Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Western Division championship with a 23-3 conference record and going 35-15 overall.</p><p>But this season has been a bit of a struggle. The Lady Tigers are off to a 1-5 start, including 0-4 at home.</p><p>“We have certainly not started like we would've liked to this season,” coach Pam Phillips said. “I habitually schedule tougher teams prior to the start of conference play, and this schedule was no different. We were in three of those first four games. We just couldn't finish.”</p><p>Phillips understands why the team has stumbled out of the gate and understands what the Lady Tigers need to work on.</p><p>“We didn't hit like Stillman and we did not get the solid pitching performances that are crucial to winning games against high-caliber opponents from the Gulf South Conference like (North Alabama and West Alabama),” Phillips said.</p><p>Phillips mentioned the schedule and lack of practice time as factors as well.</p><p>“Not to make excuses, but it is really tough on us at the beginning of the season year-in and year-out,” she said. “We do not have the luxury of having those fall practice and playing dates as do the majority of our nonconference foes.”</p><p>There is hope for the Lady Tigers as the season progresses. They have all three of their senior outfielders back this year — left fielder Michelle Gray, center fielder Januar Page and right fielder Paten Williams.</p><p>“These three student-athletes have played phenomenal defense from the jump,” Phillips said. “They certainly give our pitchers great confidence.”</p><p>Along with those standouts, Hannah Burr was voted West Division Player of the Week last week. Burr went 4-for-10 in four games. She hit two doubles and scored two runs for the Lady Tigers and posted a .933 fielding percentage for the week.</p><p>Senior shortstop Bailey Braughton was voted West Division Player of the Week this week, while junior Ashley Savage is the West Division Pitcher of the Week.</p><p>Braughton went 4-for-8 with two doubles, two RBIs, two stolen bases and scoring three runs scored.</p><p>Savage pitched six innings and struck out 11 batters in a 6-1 win at Talladega.</p><p>With bright spots like those, Phillips said she isn't worried about the slow start and knows things will turn around eventually.</p><p>“We are certainly expecting our hard work, determination and desire to pay off for us in the long run,” Phillips said. “It has definitely been a rough start for us, but we look at this as just a bump in the road on this long journey toward our ultimate goal of being the 2013 SIAC softball champions.”</p>